Structure formed of finished components

ABSTRACT

A construction or structure formed of finished components in which ceiling or support elements are connected with one another or with supports or walls by coupling devices. The coupling devices which are arranged at the joints of the finished components, for the purpose of attaining a force-locking connection, are provided with steel dowels and lamellae cooperating therewith.

United States Patent [1 1 Wey [ 1 STRUCTURE FORMED 0F FINISHED COMPONENTS [76] Inventor: Josef Alfons Wey, Farn'gut Wohlerstrasse, Villmergen, Switzerland [22] Filed: Mar. 29, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 346,057

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 6, 1972 Sweden 5029/72 [52] US. Cl 52/585; 52/753 C; 403/364;

[51] Int. Cl E04c 5/16; EO4c 1/30 [58] Field of Search 52/585, 583, 582, 587, 52/753 C, 753 G, 755, 432, 491, 632;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Gardner 52/753 G [451 May 20, 1975 872,726 12/1907 Grady 52/432 976,183 11/1910 Jones 2,920,475 H1960 Graham 52/432 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 132,382 7/1951 Sweden 52/753 G Primary ExaminerErnest R. Purser Assistant Examiner.lames L. Ridgill, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or FirmHill, Gross, Simpson, Van Santen, Steadman, Chiara & Simpson [57] ABSTRACT A construction or structure formed of finished components in which ceiling or support elements are connected with one another or with supports or walls by coupling devices. The coupling devices which are arranged at the joints of the finished components, for the purpose of attaining a force-locking connection, are provided with steel dowels and lamellae cooperating therewith.

2 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures sum 10F 7 FIG. 1

FIG. 2

SHEET 3 BF 7 FIG. 3

PATENTED 3,884,005

sum 5 UF 7 FIG] STRUCTURE FORMED OF FINISHED COMPONENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and improved structure composed of finished components by means of which ceilingsor support elements can be connected with one another or with supports or walls by coupling devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the present invention to pro vide an improved structure consisting of finished components which is economical to manufacture and easy to assemble.

Still a further significant object of the present invention relates to an improved construction consisting of finished components wherein there can be attained a reliable connection by coupling devices arranged at the joints of the finished components.

Now in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the invention contemplates that for such construction or structure which is equipped with coupling devices arranged at the joints of the finished components and for the purpose of advantageously providing a force-locking connection the coupling devices comprise steel dowels and lamellae cooperating therewith. The dowels may be in the form of wedges.

By means of the coupling devices it is possible to produce a flexurally stiff or bending-resistant connection of, for instance, ceiling elements, and therefore a continuous ceiling support system without having to erect special carriers or supports, so that for instance a ceil ing can be formed of fewer finished components than was previously the case.

Advantageously the dowels can be constructed as parts which allow for an exact alignment of the finished components during assembly and thus for compensation of construction tolerances.

Moreover, the cooperating wedges and lamellae can be designed such that they can take up both tension as well as compressive forces and thus transmit moments. Further, the wedges and lamellae also can be constructed in a manner that they can transmit shear forces in one or both directions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 11 of FIG. 2 through a moment-transmitting coupling device for two concrete elements;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 of the arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2a is a perspective view of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a different embodiment of a moment-transmitting coupling device for two concrete elements;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the arrangement of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a coupling device for the transmission of shearing forces in one direction;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the arrangement depicted in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view through a coupling device for the transmission of shear forces in both directions;

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the arrangement of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9 to 11 schematically depict three different.

constructions or structures in which ceiling elements are coupled with one another by coupling devices with a cooling fin or rib; and

FIG. 12 illustrates a modified constructional embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREPARED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings the exemplary embodiment of coupling device depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 interconnects two concrete elements 1 and 2 which possess at the joints which are to be connected a respective recess 3 and 4. In each recess 3 and 4 there is located a respective base plate 5 and 6, welded with the reinforcement rods 7 and 8 respectively, and which rods in turn, are anchored at the concrete elements 1 and 2 respectively. Instead of using reinforcement rods it would be also possible to employ pre-stressed wires, which depending upon the stress or tension system are connected with the coupling via wedges or upset heads. At each base plate 5 and 6 there are secured, by welding, three plate-shaped wedge lamellae 9 and 10 respectively. Instead of three such wedge lamellae or sheets it would be also possible to provide only two or even more than three. Further, the wedge lamellae, instead of being connected with a base plate also could be directly connected with the reinforcements. These wedge lamellae 9 and 10 are arranged in such a way that the wedge lamellae 9 of the one coupling half alternately come to lie between the wedge lamellae 10 of the other coupling half, as such has been depicted in FIG. 2.

Each of the wedge lamellae 9 and 10 possess at its bottom or lower region a recess with a vertically extending counter surface 9a and 10a respectively. Further, each wedge lamella 9 and 10 is provided at its top or upper region with a vertically extending counter surface 9b and 10b respectively. Between the lower counter surfaces 9a and 10a there are inserted two substantially horizontal tension dowels in the form of wedges 11 and 12 intended to take-up tension forces between both of the concrete elements 1 and 2. Between the upper counter surfaces 9b and 10b there are inserted two aligning or guide wedges l3 and 14 which transmit compressive or pressure forces between the concrete elements 1 and 2 and simultaneously serve as alignment wedges. As should be apparent both of the concrete elements 1 and 2, after installation thereof, are immediately force-lockingly connected and they can be exactly aligned by means of the wedges. By virtue of taking-up the tensionand compressive forces the coupling device allows for the transmission of moments from one concrete element to the other. Moreover, the coupling device can be covered in concrete after the alignment operation. In the case of provisional constructions or structures it is possible to dispense with the further concreting work in order to be able to again easily disassemble the coupling.

Now in the embodiment of coupling device depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 both of the concrete elements and 16 which are to be interconnected possess, at a respective recess 17 and 18 at the location of the joint, a respective base plate 19 and 20, at which there are welded reinforcement rods 21 and 22 respectively which are anchored at the associated concrete elements 15, 16. At each base plate 19 and there is provided a respective wedge lamella 23 and 24, consisting of a web portion 23a and 24a respectively and a flange portion 23b and 24b respectively, which extend such that the flange portions 23b, 2419 which are located between the web portions 2311, 2411 of both coupling halves run together in a wedge-shaped fashion at the bottom, as shown, and wherein between such Wedgeshaped converging flange portions there is inserted a vertically extending tension wedge 25. At the top the flange portions 23b and 24b are supported with respect to the respective base plates 19 and 26 of the other coupling half by means of a respective alignment wedge 26. Since also in this case the tension wedge 25 takes up tension forces and the alignment wedges 26 compression or compressive forces, such coupling device, similar to the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2, can transmit moments. Also both of the concrete elements 15 and 16 can be aligned by means of the wedges. At the lower region of the wedge lamellae 23, 24 there is further provided at the outside a respective lateral stiffening or reinforcing sheet metal member or plate 27. Also this coupling device, following the final alignment of the concrete elements, can be cast in concrete.

With the coupling device depicted in H68. 5 and 6 there are arranged at the joint of both concrete elements 28 and 29 which are to be interconnected the base plates 32 and 33 in the recesses 30 and 3! respec tively, and these base plates 32 and 33 are welded to anchoring rods 44 and 45 of the concrete elements 28 and 29 respectively. At each base plate 32 and 33 there are provided the respective two wedge lamellae or plates 34, 35, wherein here, like in the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2, those of the one coupling half alternately lie between those of the other coupling half. The wedge lamellae 34 of the base plate .32 possess horizontal counter surfaces 36 and the wedge lamellae 35 of the base plate 33 possess horizontal counter surfaces 37. Between these counter surfaces 36 and 37 there are inserted two wedges 38 and 39 or the like so that the counter surfaces 36 bear from the top and the counter surfaces 37 from the bottom, against these wedges 38, 39. By means of this coupling device it is therefore possible to take-up shearing or transverse forces which act in one direction and to align the concrete elements 28, 29 by means of the wedges 33, 39.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a coupling device similar to that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein however here at each of the wedge lamellae or plates 34a, 33a there are provided two respective counter surfaces 36a, 36b and 37a, 371), so that by means of this coupling device it is possible to transmit shear or transverse forces in both directions. The shear force transmission also can be carried out through a combination of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the embodiment of H6. 5 or PEG. 7 respectively.

In FIG. 9 there is illustrated the manner in which two ceiling plates 40 can be interconnected by coupling devices 41 of the type depicted in FlGS. l, 2 or N68. 3, 4 and at the four comers are supported at the supports 42. Since each of the coupling devices 4-1 transmit moments there are not required for the supporting of both plates 46 any carriers between the supports 42, so that a ceiling can consist of fewer components.

FIG. it} illustrates three ceiling plates 40 which are interconnected by means of the coupling devices 41, wherein both of the outer plates 40 are supported at the central region of their sides at the supports 42. Also in this case the coupling devices 41 transmit moments.

With the embodiment of FIG. 11 there are likewise interconnected three ceiling plates 4-0 by means of coupling devices ll which transmit moments and at the four corners are supported by the supports 42. As further depicted in phantom lines it is possible to provide between the ceiling plates 44), apart from the coupling devices ll, additional coupling devices 43, which transmit shear forces and, for instance, can be designed in the manner disclosed above with respect to the embodiments of H65. 5, 6 or FIGS. 7, 8. The coupling devices 43 in this instance could be assembled together with the coupling devices 41.

By means of the described coupling devices it is possible to assemble together components such as, for instance, ceiling elernents into complete ceilings or there can be produced bending-resistant connections at the supports. Also it is possible to fabricate continuous carriers. The coupling devices can be arranged in such a manner that there are either transmitted only positive or only negative moments.

The embodiment of wedge lamella or plate 44 depicted in FlG. 12 will be seen to possess a lower recess with a round counter surface 44a. The upper counter surface 114b is vertical similar to that shown in FlG. 1. Further, there is provided a recess 440 for the transmission of shear forces according to the showing of FIG. 5 of FIG. 7. The wedge lamella 44 is secured at the top at an angular iron member or angle iron 45 and at the bottom is directly connected with a reinforcement rod 46.

The coupling device of H63. 1 and 2 can be designed such that instead of the wedges which take up the compression forces, if desired, only a cast concrete strip is employed which takes up the compressive forces. in this case it is only necessary to provide a single or multiple wedge at one location. Furthermore, instead of employing the wedges there could be also employed steel dowels or the like if no tolerances are to be compensated.

Due to the bending-resistant connection of the concrete elements by means of the described coupling devices it is possible to overcome a primary drawback of the element structures or constructions, namely the loss of the continuity of the support system.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

Accordingly, what is claimed is:

i. A joint structure including a pair of preformed structural elements to be joined, said elements having adjoining recesses open at the top and bottom, a base plate anchored in each of said recesses, a plurality of vertical spaced, parallel plates extending from each of said base plates, said parallel plates extending beyond the outer edges of said recesses with the edges of the plates of one element overlapping the plates of the adsion force between the two adjoining structural elements and the bottom recess and wedge means being designed to take up tension force between the adjoining structural elements.

2. A joint structure in accordance with claim 1 in which the recesses in the upper and lower edges of said plates are accessible through the open ends of said element recesses to the extent necessary to place wedge means in said plate recesses. 

1. A joint structure including a pair of preformed structural elements to be joined, said elements having adjoining recesses open at the top and bottom, a base plate anchored in each of said recesses, a plurality of vertical spaced, parallel plates extending from each of said base plates, said parallel plates extending beyond the outer edges of said recesses with the edges of the plates of one element overlapping the plates of the adjoining element, the upper horizontal edge of said parallel plates of at least one of said elements being shaped to form part of a wedge-receiving recess, the free edge of the parallel plates of the other adjoining element being shaped to cooperate with said part to complete said wedge-receiving recess, wedge means in said last mentioned recess, the bottom edge of said parallel plates being shaped to form a second wedge-receiving recess and wedge means in said recess, the upper recess and wedge means being designed to take up compression force between the two adjoining structural elements and the bottom recess and wedge means being designed to take up tension force between the adjoining structural elements.
 2. A joint structure in accordance with claim 1 in which the recesses in the upper and lower edges of said plates are accessible through the open ends of said element recesses to the extent necessary to place wedge means in said plate recesses. 